Electric lantern



July 1945- E. E. DRUMM ,3

ELECTRIC LANTERN Filed May 27, 1943 Inventor Patented July 31, 1945Elmer E. Drumm, Manitowoc, Wis.

Application May 27, 1943, Serial No. 488,642

Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in electrical lanterns,and while th same has varied uses, it is particularly designed fortrainmen, who demand a signal lantern having a plurality of exposedlight bulbs that may be selec-' tively illuminated in the event offailure or one oi the bulbs.

The invention has primarily for its object to provide a lanternembodying the foregoing characteristics, in which a simple, efiicient,and selective circuit closing mechanism is provided for easymanipulation, and inexpensive assembly.

Incidental to the foregoing, particularly in a 'lantem designed toprovide diiferent light reflection in selectively illuminatinga pair ofbulbs, a

more specific object of the invention resides in the provision of acircuit closing mechanism, which permits not only maximum spacingbetween the bulbs, but also unequal spacing with reference to the axisof the reflector, a portion of which presents a concave reflectingsurface for one of the light bulbs.

Another object is to provide a pair of spaced bulb sockets withlaterally extending contact arms having their ends alined for selectiveengagement by a manually shiftable circuit closer.

Still further objects reside in insulating the sockets and contact armsfrom the casing, and

extending the arms toward the periphery of the casing to aline theirends in different planes for selective engagement by a shiftable circuitclosing mechanism mounted upon the peripheral wall of the casing andgrounded thereto.

With the above and other objects in view, which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention resides in the novel construction,combination, and arrangement of parts, substantially as hereinafterdescribed, and more particularly defined by the appended claims, itbeing understood that such changes in the precise embodiment of theherein disclosed invention may be made as come within the scope of theclaims In the accompanying drawing is illustrated one complete exampleof the physical embodiment of the present invention constructedaccording to the best mode so far devised for the practical applicationof the principles thereof.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is an elevation of a lantern incorporating the presentinvention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary longitudinal section taken on the line 2-4 ofFigure 4;

Figure 3 is a similar section taken on the lin 3-3 of Figure 4.

Figure 4 is a transverse section taken on the lined-l of Flsure 2; and

Figure 5 is a detailed section through the circuit closing mechanismtaken on the line 5-5 0 Figure 2.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawing, the lanterngenerally indicated by the numeral I, includes a casing 2, consisting ofa cylindrical shell 3 for reception of a dry cell battery B indicated indotted lines in Figure 2,

and provided with spring terminals b and b. The

top of the shell 3, which is openfor insertion of the battery B isprovided with a detachable cover 4, while the casing has pivotallysecured thereto a ball or handle 5. The lower end of the casing isprovided with a guard ring 6, which also forms a support or base for thecasing whendesired. The ring 6 is attached to the casing by spaced legsI welded or otherwise secured to the periphery of the casing adjacentits lower end.

As best shown in Figures 2 and 3, the lower end of the shell 3 is closedby a bottom wall 8, having a bridge piece 9 secured to its lower face bystuds l0. A pair of insulating washers ll positioned upon opposite sidesof the bottom wall and interposed between the bridge piece 9 and thewall serve to insulate the bridge piecefrom the shell.

Here it might be explained that the yieldable battery terminal bcontacts the studs or rivets III to provide an electrical connectionbetween the battery and bridge piece, while the other terminal b engagesthe bottom of the shell to ground the battery to the same.

Mounted upon the lower end of the shell 3 is a reflector cup ii, theskirt l3 of which extends over the shell. The cup is secured to theshell by bolts 15, or any other suitable connecting means, and toprovide a tight seal between the shell and cup, the upper end of theskirt 1.3 is

offsetat l3 to receive a gasket g which abuts an external annular beadl4 formed on the exterior of the shell 3. Spaced screws 40 passing 7through the bottom of the cup I2 and the bottom 8 of the shell serve tocompress the gasket 9 between the upper end of the cup and bead H, thelower end of the shell being slotted at IE to permit vertical movementof the attaching bolts IS.

The bottom of the cup [2 forms a reflecting surface and is provided witha circularconcave depression I6, radially ofiset from the axis of thecup, and affording a reflector for the light bulb carried by the socketl1 secured to the cup within the depression l6. The socket I1 isinsulated from the cup by washers l8 disposed upon oppo site sides ofthe bottom of the cup. Fastened in like manner to the flat portion ofthe bottom of 2 1 assess? one end of the bridge piece 9 is oiIset toprovide a resilient arm for engagement with the light bulb carried bythe socket l9, while the opposite end of the bridge piece is folded backuponitself to provide a resilient arm 20' engaging the lamp carried bythe socket 11, thus forming an electri- 1 cal connection from thebattery- B to th central er nals of-both lamps;

Securedto each of th sockets n as is an insulated from the reflector cupI2, is a contact difl'erent planes and at angles to each other toterminate in a common vertical plane adjacent periphery of the cup.

In order to complete the battery circuit through the lamp sockets to thecasing, a manually oper- .20 g

' contacts into alinement with the finger, it being able circuit closingmechanism 23 is provided. which comprises a contact arm 24 extendingthrough an opening. 25 in the bottom wall of the, shell 3, andterminating in a laterally projecting finger-26, normally disposedbetween the alined 5 ends of the contacts 2|, andspaced .i'rom the 4;,same. It will be apparent that as the contactarm 24 islongitudinaliyshifted from its normal-:posi-s; tion shown, it willengageone oithe contacts-2L;

to ground thesameto the casingrrthez-arm being in contactjwiththe casingas best shown in Figure 1, thusIselectively illuminating the lightbulbs; j

A crimped offset 26' formed in openposition, while the spring tensioncreatedbetween the arm Nanci the shell .when the crimp is moved out ofthe annular depression, serves to frictionally hold the arm in either ofits circuit closing positions. For mounting the arm 24. a

- spacer channel plate 21 straddles the arm and engages the inner faceof the shell 3 'to prevent. excessive bind between the arm and shellupon reciprocation of the former. The plate 21 carries a headed stud 28,which passes through the arm 24 and a longitudinal slot 29 formed in theshell 3, while a retainer plate 30 is mounted on the stud exteriorly ofthe shell for reciprocation in a longitudinal recess 3! formed in theshell. 5

A knurled nut 32 threaded upon the outer end of the stud 28 locks theassembly together and is held on the stud against accidental detachmentby the upset end 33 of the stud. In operation the nut 32 serves as amanipulating button while the 5 fiat plate 30, operating within thelongitudinal recess 3|, limits reciprocal movement of the contact arm 24in both directions.

From the foregoing explanation, taken in conne ctipn withstheaccompanying drawing, it will on be apparent that a simple, inexpensive,and emcient lantern has been devised, which not only provides forselective, quick illumination of a pair of two exposed light bulbsmounted upon the end reflector, but also permits arbitrary selection of5 two forms of light rays, namely a diffused light and a moreconcentrated beam, the flat portion of the reflector serving to difiusethe light, while the concave portion concentrates the same.

Particular attention is directed to the novel 7 tegeous in that itpermits. the lamp sockets to be screws;

v earmi ZtTnormally'extends into the annularrecess formed .by 35' thebead Hi, to releasably latch the arm'in its spaced an unequal distancefrom the axis of the reflector, whereby one of the sockets can bepositioned on the flat portion of the reflector, closely adjacent itsperiphery, thus allowing a concave reflector surfaceof a maximumdiameter for the other lamp.

Further insulation of the lamp sockets from the casing, and groundingcircuit closing mechanism to the casing. p rmits a materially simplifiedstructure as compared with lanterns in which the circuit clos mechanismis insulated from the shell: 1

Attention is also directed to the ease of assembling the lantern,resulting from the fact that the 2|, which extends laterally from thesockets in 15 shell and reflector cup and their mechanism, areseparately completed, after which it is merely necessary to position thereflector cup upon the end of the shell, with the ends of the contacts2! out of vertical alinement with the finger 26, and then rotate the cupto bring the spaced ends of the understood that the finger is in aneural position to prevent obstructing rotary movement of the contacts"with'the reflector cup, which, when in proper =p0siti0nis secured tothe shell by the l. In an electric lantern comprising, a casingprovided'at one end'witha'flat reflector having a concave refiec torsurface formed in a portion of its face, in lighfibulb secret mountedupon both the flatconcaveportions of the reflector and unequallyspaced'from'the'axis of the reflector, said socketsb'eing insulated from thereflector, contact fingers connectedto said sockets and extending'laterallyto a point adjacent the peri heryof said casing and havingtheir ends in vertical 'alinement', and a circuit closer verticallyshiftable mounted. upon the periphery of said casing and extending.between the alined ends of said contact fingers" for selectiveengagement with said contact flngers, said circuit closer being groundedto said casing. V

2. In an electric lantern comprising, a casing provided at one end witha flat reflector having a concave reflector surface formed in a portionof its face, a light bulb socket mounted upon both the flat and concaveportions of the reflector and unequally spaced from the axis of thesame, said sockets being insulated from said reflector, contact fingerssecured to said sockets and extending laterally toward the periphery ofsaid casing at an angle to each other and in diflerent horizontalplanes, the ends of said contacts being in the same vertical plane, anda vertically shiftable circuit closer mounted on said casing andextending between the ends of said contacts for selective engagementwith the same, said circuit closer being grounded to said casing.

3. In an electric lantern comprising a casing provided at one end with aflat reflector havin a concave reflector surface formed in a portion ofits face, a light bulb socket mounted upon both theflat and concaveportions of the reflector and unequally spaced from the axis of thesame, a

' bridge piece carried by said casing for contact with the lamps carriedby said sockets, contact fingers connected to said sockets and extendinglaterally toward the periphery of said casing and having their ends invertical alinement, and a vertically'shiftable circuit closer mountedupon said casing and extending between the aimed ends of said contactfingers for selective engagement with said contact members.

4. In an electric lantern comprising a casing provided at one end with aflat reflector having a concave reflector surface formed in a portion ofits face, a light bulb socket mounted upon both the flat and concaveportions of the reflector and unequally spaced from the axis of thesame, said sockets being insulated from said reflector, a bridge piececarried by said casing for contact with bulbs positioned in saidsockets, contact fingers secured to said sockets and extending laterallytowards the periphery of said casing in difierent horizontal planes andat angles to each other to vertically aline the ends of said contacts,and a shiftable circuit closer mounted on said casing and extendingbetween the ends of said contacts for selective engagement with thesame, said circuit closer being grounded to said casing.

5. In an electric lantern comprising, a casing closed at one end, a cupsecured to the closed end of the casing and provided with a flatreflector Wall having a concave reflecting surface formed in a portionof its face, a light bulb socket mounted upon both the flat and concaveportions of the reflector and unequally spaced from the axis alined endsof said contacts for selective engagement with said contact fingers.

ELMER E. DRUMM.

